Still Chasing Leaks

[magwakeenercew2jh]

After probably the longest shake down period in the history of our trucks, I'm still dealing with liquids of all kinds in places they aren't supposed to be.

I've had the TH350 out three times. Hopefully, you guys will tell me that's probably why the rear main is leaking. New rear main. And I (we) were very,
very careful on each "pull" and "put"..........Oh, we were doing that because we couldn't get the trans to stop leaking in various spots.

It's leaking again (or still), too. I think it's from the filler-stick hole. Anybody had good (or bad) luck with any specific brand of these?

I thought I had it stopped leaking after I replaced the S-Steel braided bending filler tube, but I think I still have the problem down at the O-ring. Today I went for a short
ride and the shifting was really strange. Came home and checked the fluid (motor running) and none showed on the stick. Yuck. See the pics.

The REAL question is, now that I don't have anyone to help with the rear main via a trans pull, what's the best way to replace the rear main? Do I have to pull the trans?
I think the motor is a mid-80's 350 and the trans is, as above, a TH350.

At least I have the gas, brake fluid, and coolant leaks cured
(knock on wood).

[BlackedOut67shorty]

Where does it seem to be coming from, I can only see a partial bit of where tranny fluid is leaking.
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[magwakeenercew2jh]

Well, I guess the real the art of this is part of wrenching is finding where the leaks are coming from.

The trans, I think, is leaking (this time) from the connection at the kick-down cable.

I think the engine oil is coming from the rear main (pic-arrow).

But, I'm crawling under again mid-morning with lights, camera, and hopefully "action".


I'm sure that the oil is "dripping" from just to the rear of the furthest rear point of the oil pan. The oil pan gasket seems
to not be the culprit. But after more investigation today, I'll report back.

[BlackedOut67shorty]

For.the rear main I would check the sending unit line that comes from the back of the block. On mine it was loose and it dribbled oil everywhere making me think my rear main seal was leaking.
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[magwakeenercew2jh]

This morning, I started at 9:00 and it's now a little after 3:00. I went out and wiped up the previous juice off of the drip-mat...A little trans fluid and a little more oil
that are in the original pic.

Then, I used carb cleaner and cleaned up that "shelf" on the pass side of the TH350 below the oil cooler line connectors, detent and filler tube "slots". Then I blew 'em dry with air.
Did the same to the slightly oily point right between the pan and the flex plate connection (area of rear main seal).

Ran it up to operating temp in "Park" mostly at idle. Then I let it cool. Took pics. Dry!

Ran it up to operating temp again. This time, with foot on the brake and the trans in different gears. Stopping at Neutral and Park a few times to run up the revs.
Then I let it cool. Climbed under. Dry!

When I was under that time, I saw that the vacuum line had been knocked off at the back of the tranny (by me, of course) which probably accounted for the strange
shifting points yesterday before I put in a quart of fluid (still does not show on the "stick"). Connected it.

Off the jack and jack-stands for a 10 minute test drive around the neighborhood.

Drove into the garage and decided not to jack it up again. Waited half an hour. No leaks....Engine oil *or* tranny fluid. Waited an hour. No leaks.

Weird.

I'm not going to trust that after market filler dipstick. My calcs are that I have enough fluid in there. I'll watch it closely. Maybe add another quart if I get paranoid.
But, I pulled the connection at the trans cooler, and fluid is circulating. It's shifting perfectly. And, until the next chapter, she's not leaking.

There's fluid in there. So, she'll leak. So will the rear main. The Peter Principle.

[steves1967]

Take a good hard look at the valvecovers and the back of the heads. I had an engine oil leak that I thought was coming from the pan, turns out the valve cover gasket had slipped and oil was dripping down the back of the head against the firewall...

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by steves1967

Take a good hard look at the valvecovers and the back of the heads. I had an engine oil leak that I thought was coming from the pan, turns out the valve cover gasket had slipped and oil was dripping down the back of the head against the firewall...

Thanks. Will do.
The right valve cover and the oil line to the gauge (Thanks, BlackedOut) both look good. I'll check the driver's side valve cover in the morning.

I can see that there's no oil around the where the oil filter "mates" to the block.

A "starting and stopping" oil leak??? I'm kind-of used to starting and stopping noises. Or electrical issues. But oil?
Strange animal. Makes the source even harder to find.

I'm still not happy about it, but I'm betting on the rear main. Because there's no oil anywhere except on the ground
(none even *there* now) where it can drip straight down without hitting anything else.

I'd really, really be happy to be wrong, though.

Here's the "before clean-up" shot.

[Boog]

Bill am I mistaken or is that upper cooler line crooked where it threads into the fitting.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Sure looks like it in the pic, doesn't it? Seemed like it was dry.
But I'll check it with a "fine toothed eye" tomorrow.

Thanks much, Boog.

[Sammy]

Turbo's are good about puking excess fluid when over filled. Usually where your pics show. Noticed also after reinstallation it is very easy to over fill them or even have the torque converter suck a bunch of fluid after getting warmed up. After market dip stick could be giving you a false indication of fluid level. Even at as little of a quart down they act up also. Good luck.

[ItsRandy]

Originally Posted by Boog

Bill am I mistaken or is that upper cooler line crooked where it threads into the fitting.

I thought the same thing.